Display container



July 11, 1961 J. SHIFFMAN DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed Dec. 12, 1958 INVENTOR. J EEOME SH l FF-M RN WWW LEM ATTonzmeYs United States Patent 2,991,876 DISPLAY CONTAINER Jerome Shifiman, 128Carthage Road, Scarsdale, N.Y. Filed Dec. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 780,096 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-4513) This display appertains to improvements in containers and particularly relates to improvements in containers of the type generally known as jewelry boxes which are used for the storage and display of jewelry articles, such as rings, watches, bracelets and the like.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a container of the box-like type which can achieve the dual purpose of protectively storing or housing an article, while in a closed position, and of attractively displaying the article while in an open position.

Containers of this display type are not basically new and, commercially and patentably speaking, containers of this basic, general type and for this purpose are known. However, such known containers or boxes have not been employed to any great extent because of certain economic and other factors.

In order that a container or box of this display type can be commercially acceptable, it must be inexpensive, from a material and labor costs standpoint, since dealers are reluctant to pay a purchase price, which is much higher than the cost of ordinary containers or boxes which do not possess any elevating display feature. Such a container or box must also be simple in construction so that the interior thereof will enhance the. appearance of the article of jewelry and not detract therefrom. In addition, such a container or box must be compact and devoid of any complicated structural operating elements effecting its closing, opening and displaying functions.

The known display type containers or boxes involve a considerable number of structural elements in order to efiect the storage and display functions. The requirement for such number of structural elements adds to the cost of manufacturing the containers or boxes and detracts from the required simple and compact nature of the containers or boxes.

The primary aim and purpose of the instant invention is to provide a simple, compact and inexpensive jewelry container or box which can effectively perform the dual functions of protectively housing or storing an article of jewelry, while in a closed position, and of elevating and attractively displaying such an article of jewelry while in an open position.

In carrying out such purpose, it is proposed to make the jewehy box so that it only includes a pair of complementary box members which are formed so that one serves as the cover for the other and to provide a single onepiece means that performs the multiple functions of securing such members together in a hinged manner, of spring biasing the members into a closed position and of serving as a support for a holder for the article of jewelry. When in a closed position, the complementary box members protectively house the article of jewelry and prevent dirt, dust and the like from coming in contact with the jewelry article. When in an open position, the article of jewelry is elevated or raised into a position so that it is easily and completely viewable. The box is opened by raising the cover or lid member and attendant with such action, the means, which is a single structural element, raises the holder and the jewelry article into an elevated position so that such jewelry article is angularly interposed between the base member of the box and the ele vated cover member.

One important feature of construction of the present invention is the single structural element which has the combined ofiices of connecting the box members together to form the box, of biasing such members into a closed position and of supporting the holder which directly retains and supports the article of jewelry. Another .important feature is the holder which is of a simple and compact nature and is of one-piece construction and is easily and securely attached to and carried by the single element.

The preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawing, and is described in the following description. Obviously, many different types and designs of boxes or containers can be made, in accordance with the present invention, and the form, shown in the drawing, is merely for exemplary purposes.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the box in a closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the box in an open position;

FIGURE 3 is an explodedperspective view of the box showing the components thereof in a separated relation;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the container or box, generally designated by the numeral 10, includes a base member *12 and a cover or lid member 14. The materials, from which such members are formed, the manner in which they are made, and the design or appearance thereof will vary and the particular appearance and construction of such members, as shown and described, are merely for the purpose of disclosing the nature and purpose of the present invention.

As shown, the members 12 and 14 are rectangular and each include flat main walls, front, side and rear walls. The rear walls 16 and 18 of each member constitute the hingedly connected walls of the box and, for this purpose, such walls are formed with shoulders 20 and 22, which, in the present instance, are defined by cut-out portions 24 and 26. Such shoulders are formed so as to be normal to the rear walls and are on the inner faces thereof.

In this art, a Rathbun hinge is well known and, as a part of the present invention, such a hinge i used but, the arrangement and multiple use of this conventional element is not known prior to this invention.

As shown, the Rathbun hinge 28 is of the conventional clip type and is formed from inherently resilient material. Such hinge has a concavo-convex body portion 30 which terminates, at its ends, in reverted flange 32 and 34. The flanges grip behind the shoulders in mounting the hinge 28 in place so as to secure the box members together.

The convex face 36 of such hinge element supports a holder 38 which is U-shaped and has a bight portion 40 and companion leg portions 42 and 44. The bight or web portion 40 is secured by a rivet 46 to the center of the face 36 of the body portion in a way so that the leg portions 42 and 44 extend outwardly therefrom. The leg portions converge so that they can grip an article of jewelry, such as the ring 48, which is shown in the drawing.

The holder 38 is secured transversely of the face 36 and extends outwardly therefrom toward the center of the interior of the box.

In the manufacture of the box 10, the box members 12 and 14 may be formed in a conventional, inexpensive manner, as by being molded from a suitable plastic material, for example. The inner faces of the rear walls 16 and 18 are formed so that they are provided with the shoulders 20 and 22. The holder 38 is assembled into a unitary structure with the Rathbun hinge by being attached to the convex face of the Rathbun hinge by the simple expedient of the rivet. Of course, other means may be used for effecting the connection.

In assembling the container or box, unskilled labor may be used and the assembly action is a fast and convenient one. It is only necessary to bring the cover and base members into position with their rear walls juxtaposed and then to snap the hinge 28 in place by exerting a slight pressure thereon to flatten it out and secure the flanges behind the shoulders. With the hinge in such mounted position, the box members are held in attached relation.

For the purpose of enhancing the attractiveness of the box and of protecting the article of jewelry, the inner surface of the walls of the box members can be covered with any type of fabric or plastic lining. Also, the holder can be covered so that the leg portions will not mar or scratch an article of jewelry which is inserted therebetween and held thereby.

It can be seen, from a consideration of FIGURES 4 and 5, that, when the box is opened, the Rathbun hinge is spread out from its normal bowed position and such movement of the hinge causes the holder to be elevated from a position lying substantially parallel with the base member of the box into an elevated position angularly interposed between the right angularly related base member 12 and cover member 14. When the box i closed, the article of jewelry is protectively housed between the mating base and cover members.

While the preferred form of the present invention has been described and illustrated herein, such is merely by way of example and other forms may be realized as come within the spirit and terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A display container consisting of registrable cover and container sections having rear walls having forward sides, a single spring hinge having a concave-convex body having opposed hook flanges on its longitudinal edges, said hook flanges being connected to related rear Walls at the forward sides thereof, and a holder fixed on the body and extending outwardly from the convex side of the body, said holder having a bight portion fixed to the convex side of the hinge body and spring legs extending along the longitudinal edges of the bight portion, said legs being tensioned toward each other in convergent relationship.

2. A display container comprising registrable cover and container sections having rear walls, said rear walls having forward sides having forwardly projecting longitudinal tongues thereon, said tongues having mutually divergent rear surfaces, a resilient spring hinge comprising a longitudinally extending concavo-convex body having opposed hook flanges along its edges which are engaged with the rear surfaces of related tongues, the transverse width of the hinge body relative to the distance between the tongues being such that the hinge serves to bias the sections toward each other into closed and registered relationship, and an article holder fixed to and bearing centrally on the convex side of the hinge body, said holder being U-shaped and having a bight portion engaged with the convex side of the hinge body and resilient flat legs along the longitudinal edges of the bight portion, said legs being tensioned toward each other in convergent relationship for gripping an article therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,240,671 Catala Sept. 18, 1917 2,647,624 Sedgwick Aug. 4, 1953 2,698,084 Burroughs et a1 Dec. 28, 1954 2,755,921 Ortendahl July 24, 1956 

